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FORT MEIGS MONUMENT. 
Vff n t plhuf* n ts of 

THE MAUMlE valley PIONEER 
AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION 



DEDICATION 



OF 



FORT MEIGS MONUMENT 



SEPTEMBER 1, 1908. 



Description of the Monument What It Commemorates — 

Historic Spots to be Seen from the Shaft Treaty of 

1817 The Elm Dudley's Disaster Fort 

Miami British Batteries Burial 

Grounds, Etc., Etc.. 

TOGETHER WITH 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO SIEGES OF 
FORT MEIGS IN 1813. 



Compiled and Prepared by C. W. Evers, 
Bowling Green, Ohio. 






Ft. Meigs Dedicatory Services. 

Tuesday, September 1, 1908. 

1. Call to order by J. B. Wilson. Chairman of the Fort 

-Meigs Commission, at 2:00 p. m. 

2. Singing "America" Audience 

Led by Waterville Choir. 75 voices. 

•i. Invocation Rev. J. P. Miehaelis of ^Faumee 

■i. Introduction of Gov. A. L. Plarris as President of the 
Day, and presentation to him of completed ^Monu- 
ment by Chairman "Wilson, and acceptance of same 
by Gov. Harris. 

'). Singing Waterville Choir 

li. Address Gov. A. E. Wilson. Kentucky 

7. Singing Waterville Cliorus Choir 

8. Address. .. .Lieut. -(}(»v. Ro])t. S. ^Turphy. of John.stown. Pa. 

9. Address Major Kobt. W. Tlnnter. of Rielimond. Va. 

10. Addre.ss Senator J. B. Foraker of Oliio 

11. Singing. "Star Spangled Banner". .Waterville Chorus Choir 

12. Benediction Rev. R. D. Hollington 



Dimensions of Monument. 

Base — 34 feet square. 

Height to Shaft — 15 feet S inches. 

Die — 8 feet 8 inches square. 

Shaft at Base — 6 feet square. 

Shaft at Top — 4 feet square. 

From liase to Top of Shaft— 81 fed 8 inches. 










Gen. \Vm. H. Harrison. 




FORT MEIGS AND ITS ENVIRONS. 

Kxplauations: — a, grand battery, commanded by Captain Daniel Gush- 
ing; b, raotar battery; e, i, o, minor batteries; g, battery commanded at the 
second siege by Colonel Gaines; c, magazines. The black squares on the 
lines of the fort represent tlie position of the block houses. The dotted 
lines show tlie traverses, or walls of earth thrown up. The longest, the 
grand traverse, had a base of twenty feet, was twelve in height, and about 
nine liundred in lengtli. The traverses running lengthwise of the fort, were 
raised as a protection against the batteries on the opposite side of 
the river, and those running crosswise were to defend them from 
tlie British batteries on this side. The British batteries on the north side 
of the river were named as follows: a. Queen's; b. Sailors'; d, King's; and 
c. Mortar. The fort stood upon high ground, on the margin of the bank, 
elevated about sixty feet above the Maumee. The surface is nearly level, 
and is covered by a green sward. The outline of the fort is now well defined, 
and the grand traverse yet rises six or eight feet from the surrounding 
ground. 

NOTE: — The Toledo Blade of June 3, 1908, has the Larwill profile of the 
fort which differs somewhat in the fact that more traverse, earthworks, 
are shown next to the present public road. The historical reports by Wood 
and others show that these latter works were made during the siege to meet 
military emergencies; also that between the two sieges, the fort was re- 
duced in dimensions, being too large for proper defense by so limited a 
number of troops. Howe's Ohio, has a map very similar, In fact a copy 
of the Larwill profile, which we reproduce. It is not on so large a scale 
nor does it show so much of the surrounding landscape as that given in 
tlie Blade. 



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INTRODUCTORY. 



"Yes Stranger, I would like to get a bit of information 
about this monument ; why it was placed here ; what events it 
commemorates and such other details of the historic sur- 
roundings as are obtainable. 1 have been only a casual read- 
er of our history, and am sorry to say my memory is a little 
rusty, but I am very nuicli interested to learn more right 
now. ' ' 

The above was the request and expression of a man, 
who, with his wife, had alighted on a recent day from an 
electric car and was surveying the Fort Meigs monument as 
the workmen were yet giving the shaft its finishing touches. 
His inquiry and comments were those of the thousands of 
others who will visit this spot as time passes. It is to satis- 
factorily answer such natural and proper inquiries that the 
following pages have been written, or compiled from trust- 
worthy sources. 

POINTS OF INTEREST. 

MAUMEE TREATY IN 1817. 

Standing at the pedestal of the monument and facing 
the river we look across to the town of Maumee where the 
memorable treaty of 1817 was made by which the United 
States acquired the title to the land of Northwestern Ohio, 
except that part consisting of the United States Reserve, 
which had been previously acquired by Wayne's treaty, and 
from which eighteen counties were afterwards formed. 

Of all the great treaties made with the Indians from 
1795 down to 1817 this was by far the most important to 
Northwestern Ohio. Duncan McArthur and Lewis Cass, as 
the authorized agents of the United States, met seven In- 
dian tribes, comprising about 7,000 there assembled. 

Some stout o])p()sition to selling it was made < hio 
Indian named ;\[esh-ke-mau, who prided himself on being a 



British subject, was full of wrath and anger. Ifc lavcd and 
brandished his tomahawk over Gen. Cass, who ordered liiui 
taken out, which was done by several other Indians. 

Anu)ng the Indian warriors who were present was 
Ottuso, said to be a son of i'oiitiac, a most elotjuent chief, 
very intelligent, and (juite the equal of Tecumseh in mental 
qualities, and at the time of his death the last of his family, 
and the last war chief of his nation remaining on the 
.Maiimee river. 

There was also present at this council an old Indian 
wonuui, said to be a grandniece or widow of the renowned . 
Pontiac. !Slie was held in great veneration by the Indians. 
She was then very old, and bent with age, her hair perfectly 
wliile, and no chief would sign the treaty until she had first 
consented, and made her mark by touching her fingers to 
the pen. When the treaty was agreed upon, the head chiefs 
and warriors sat round the inner circle, she having a place 
among them. The remaining Indians with the women and 
children formed a crowd outside. The chiefs sat on seats 
built under the roof of the council house, which was open on 
all sides. The whole assembly kept silent. The chiefs 
bowed their heads and cast their eyes to the ground, and 
waited patiently foi- the old woman until she arose. After 
the treaty liad been read to all in her precsence, she went 
forward and touched the ]>cn to the treaty, following which 
liiey all signed it. 

INDIAN ELM .\ \ 1 ) T 1 1 E BIG RIFLE. 

Also in fi-ont aci-oss tlie rivei- is the site where stood 1 he 
gi-cal chii thai concealed ihc hidlnii sharpshooter who so 
;iiiiio\('<l the l''(ir! .Meigs gaiM'ison. 

During the siege of Fort .Meigs the Indians were very 
bold and troublesome in approaching under cover of every 
tree stunq) or other shelter, as near as they dared, and from 
whicii they kept uji a fusiladc of Inillets into the fort, by 
which means they caused much auuoyauce to the Americans, 



and some fatal casualties. Sonic, Ix.ldn- tliaii otiicrs, climb- 
ed into the tree tops at a dist.-iiicc and lii-cd into the loiM at 
random. 

It was told at llic time llial one )iarli('iilarl\- li-itiiMc- 
soiiie "l)iick" lircd fnini a \n\'\y chn on the iK.ith li;iiik (d' llic 
Maimiee and directly o^jposilc the I'ort. ddiis Indian, when 
tlio soldiers fired at, or noticed him, would act \-cr\- dcliant 
and ])ci"i)ctrate all sorts of pantomime insults. 

b'iiially some ofHcei- i-cincmbered that a tremendous 
I'ide, so lai"ge and heavy that no soldier could cai'i'y it on the 
march was lying somewhere a))out Gen. Harrison's liead- 
«^uarters. No one seemed to know just how or why it was 
there, for it was regarded as an utterly impractical and use- 
less piece But in desperation it was dragged out, a hidlet 
mold improvised and a marksman bold enough to aim it and 
fire at the Indian in the big elm. At the second or third shot 
the Indian tumbled out and was seen there no more. It is 
not told how the man fared who held the gun. He doubtless 
had at least a lame shoulder. 

Harrison afterwards gave the gun to one of his scouts, 
and later one of the Minors had it. In 1865 Jared Cothrell, 
who kept the Mad Anthony saloon at Fort Wayne, had it 
.standing back of his bar. The muzzle reached two-thirds to 
the ceiling, and its bore would nearly admit a broom handle. 
Its shoulder breech was cushioned with soft leather and 
green baize cloth. It was a prodigious gun, and not uuiny 
men would care to fire it under a full charge of powder and 
ball. It is now in the relic room of some Indiana historical 
society, perhaps at Indianapolis. 

The old historic elm at Alaumee blew down in a storm 
many years ago, but its site is still pointed out. Also other 
elms are there and doubtless served as lookout perches for 
Indian marksmen. All agencies of that oft repeated ejiisode 
in the war are gone excei)t (ieneral Harrison's l)ig gun. 
THE BIiITI«ii BATTEKIES. 

Immeditely facing us, across the river on the high 



10 

bank is the site where the British batteries were placed and 
wliich Colonel Dudley failed to destroy. 

THE OLD COURT HOUSE. 
I'^irlher to the right across the river is the old court 
house where Chiel' Justice Waite, in his youthful days, made 
his maiden speech, and near by was his lionic. Here, too, is 
the site wiicic I he Hcrcest conflict was waged in the Dudley 
disaster. 

uuirr MIAMI. 

Down the rivt-r two miles at the vilhige oi" Miami may 
be seen the embankments of the old Fort Miami, held by 
ricu. Proctoi- dui-ing the siege of Fort Meigs in 1813. This, 
too, was the tirst point on which a flag was erected in this 
valley — in fact in Ohio — by the French in 1679-80, which 
was continued for some time as a trading post, and which 
was afterward occujjied Ity the British with ^lajor Camp- 
bell in coiiiiiKiiid. during Wayne's victory in 1794. 

THE OLD WELL. 
Xow glance your eye to the right in the east end of the 
I'ort and but a few steps from where you stand is the prin- 
cipal well dug during the seige, and from which the camp 
was supplied with water, thus avoiding the necessity of ex- 
|)Osing their lives in carrying water from the river. The 
well was about 60 feet deep. It is marked by a post dis- 
tinctly visible. That ])ost extends to the bottom of the well, 
and this is its histoi'v: ( )n the night jirevious to the great 
celebration of lS4n, some of tlie young men of Perrsyburg 
of the Democratic persuasion in a si)irit of mischief went to 
the I'oi-t, secure(l the flag ]>ole. about 60 feet long, which was 
lo be raised the following nioi-uiug. and plunged it into the 
well, where it has i-einaine(l t'di- more llian 6S years. 

Till-: Kl•:^Tl(•K^• r.iiMAi, ground. 

East of us on the hill. !o the I'ight of the road, may be 
-;een the lioin<' (»f Michael Mayes, during his life-time^ — a 
brick building erected by Marshall Key of Kentucky more 



11 

tlian fifty years ago. Between tlio east end of the fort and 
the Hayes brick house, up tlie sloping hill, on a little grassy 
plateau, is the Kentucky burial ground. There arc the 
sunken graves of forty oi- iil'ty of Diidlcy's slauglitcic*! 
soldiers. Their Itodics wci-c hrdiiiihl ;ici-(iss llic nvry hy 
Harrison's men after Proctor had icl'l. Miciijii-I Hayes de- 
serves great credit for the care and prcjtcction he gave this 
spot as long as he lived. 

THE BATTERY BEYOND THE RAVlXIv 

To the east of the Hayes house, across the electi'ic car 
track, and next to the Perrysburg cemetery, yet plainly vis- 
ible, is the site of the British battery captured by Colonel 
Miller under Geu. Harrison's direction, in this capture 
the Petersburg, Virginia, battalion behaved most gallantly. 

THE PITTSBURG BLUES. 

Right back of us and about 70 steps beyond Ihe idad is 
the burial plat of the Pittsburg Blues, embracing some 
loi-ty or fifty graves. 

THE GARRISON DEAD. 

To our left at the west end of the fort is the cemetery 
of those Avho were killed and died in Fort ]\Ieigs during the 
siege, and known as the Garrison Cemetery. 

LIEUTS. M'CULLOUGH AND WALKER. 

luunediately to our left, within the fort, are the graves 
of Lieutenants McCullough and Walker. The t'ornier was 
killed in the fort while in conversation with (ien. Ifarrison 
and the latter lost his life in a skirmish with the Indians. 

THE SPAFFORD GRANT. 

As you look to the west, oi- np river side, the lirst 
ground the eye rests njion beyond the foil rnins and front- 
ing the river, is what is known as the Spafl'ord (iiant of 
160 acres, it was the first deeded land in Wood connly. 
The title was made to Majoi' .\nios S])alTord. then I . S. 
collector of customs for the Miami disti'ict. by a special act 



12 

of Congress in the year 1817. Major Spafford was also 
postmaster when the war of 1JS12 broke up the settlement. 
He was tlie first to hold civil otiice in the whole Mamneo 
valley as well as the first pcniiaiu'nt settler and land-owner 
ill Wood ('(iiiiity. 1 Ic and his wife were hnried on the corner 
of the tiai't at the angle of the two roads just beyond the 
fort. There is no mark at their graves. Imt slcjis luuc been 
taken looking to a fittini;- tablet tlici-c. 

BUTToXWool) ISLAND. 
Still above this, over a mile, in the rivei' is IJiittonwood 
island, where the Indians were assembled in ls;)3, where 
all were vaeciiiated and made read\' for deportment to the 
far west l)y the government. 

THE GALLOWS. 
Down in the valley between the Liowling (Jreen Rail- 
way and the foot hill is where the execution took place of 
George Porter (the first e.xeciition in Wood County) for the 
murder of Isaac Richardson, at Rush-de-boo in 1817. (See 
K'liapp's History, i». 300.) 

TURKEY FOOT ROCK. 
Away to our left about two miles, across and up the 
river, may be seen I*res(pie Isle hill, where is Turkey Foot 
Rock, now the only inoiuimcnt in commemoration of 
Wayne's battle in 17!»-t. 

Koirr DId'oslT. 
Still further up the river, on the north side, one mile 
above Watervillc, is Rush-de-boo, the rocky point on the 
river where Wax ne camped the night before his battle. He 
called this ('ainp Deposit. Hard b\ is a concrete rail- 
i-oad bridge, said to be the huigest but oin' in the country. 

^'FaT^S TO \\K \l\-::\\KM\\V]UVA). 
Tlie (•oTt^^r^^lion of Lort .Meigs began February '2, 1813. 
The fir>l >iege of Lorl .Meigs lu'gan .\]>ril '_!7, 1813, an<l 
lasted 14 days. 



13 

The second sieg-e l)ei>an July l!(), ISl,'!. .-uid lasted i\\{' 
days. Most of the army supplies were lirou.uiit to the fort 
on i)aek horses, because of the bad roads. 

The ordnance and military stores were removed from 

Fort Meigs and the |)ost abandoned by the government in 

1815. 

THE TIYDKAUTJC DITCH. 

The ditch noticed down the slope toward the river was 
no part of the defensive works of the fort. It was used 
many years ago to bring water from a dam four miles or 
so up the river, which furnished mill power in Perrysburg, 
and was later abandoned. 

Many visitors fail to comprehend tlie full dimensions 
of the original fort proper. Tt embraced as first constructed 
about ten acres. Between the two sieges, its dimensions 
were cut down to suit a smaller garrison. The outlines, in 
]ilaces, are nearly obliterated, but the commission plan to 
indicate the outlines, bastions, block houses, etc., by plain 
markers. The profile maps are quite a help to the stranger. 

The block-houses and other buildings were often made 
use of by the new settlers coming into the country, until 
they could find homes and get permanently located. In this 
way the fort at times was found a great convenience. But 
gradually the buildings fell into decay, or, through careless- 
ness took fire and were burned and destroyed. 

The picture of the fort, rear view, shows what appears 
to be a border of some sort strung along the fort palisades 
on the ground. At first view it appears to be barrels lying 
end to end; but it is told that hollow sycamore logs were 
sawed in sections, filled with rocks, headed up and so ])laced 
that by cutting a rope by which each was attached in.side 
the fort, that the logs would start rolling dowif the steep 
slope or bank at high speed, knocking down everything in 
their course. This was a precaution against a massed at- 
tack on the rear of the fortification. 

The fort was cut down to smaller dimrnsions between 
the two sieges to make it suitable for defense by a less num- 
ber of troops. 



14 

THC MONUMKNT AND ITS HISTORY. 



The nioniiiiicnt, a modest, well proportioned, plain, 
granite shaft 82 feet high, is symbolic of the patriotic spirit 
of the i)eople of today and their deej) and lasting love and 
gratitude t'oi' the liai'd\ men of 18r2-]3. 

Tiie ground upon which it stands, including the fort 
pro])er, excepting a point at the east end, cut off by a public 
road — also a strip on the south side, taken many years ago 
as a ])ul)rK' liigliway, but including the burial place of tlie 
Pittsburg Blues (some forty or more in number), about 
70 steps south of the road — was purchased by tlie State of 
Ohio, through an act of the General Assembly, in ^iTarch, 
190(5. The act autborized tbe expenditure of $25,000 for 
the purchase of the grounds and erection of -^ iUonument ; 
also provided for the appointment of a commisison by tbe 
(Jovernor. J. L. Pray of Toledo, C. W. Sboemaker of 
Waterville, and J. B. AVilson of Bowling Green, were ap- 
jiointed July 23, 1900, by Governor Harris, ^tr. AVilson was 
elected cliairuuin and AV. Coi-lett. of Waterville, appointed 
Secretary of tbe PK)ard. 

Tbe ground, on River Tracts (55 and ()(i, comprising 36 
acres, was purchased of the Hayes heirs June 12, 1907, for 
the sum of $10,800. The contract for the monument was 
let in Se]>tembei-, 1907. the i»rice being $l-l-,000. This is one 
instance, at least, where a c(unmission did not exceed the 
ai>)>ro)ti'iati(ni. 

Februai-\ 2."). 19os. a law was enacted providing fin* the 
cai-e and jirotect iiui of the nioinnnent and grounds. By this 
law a permanent connnission of five nuunbers was provided. 
The (bivernoi- uanu's the commisison. the term of office be- 
ing H\<' \e;ir-. The law also carries with it an appropria- 
tion of $5,000. to c.-nry into elTect such improvements as ari' 
nei-essai> in the way o\' fences. slia<le trees, landscape work. 



15 



etc.; also a cottage for tlie caro taker of llic pro])orty, if tlio 
commission deem it advisable. 

Governor Harris appointed as members of this |>er- 
manent commission for the first year tlie folio wiiiu iKinwd 
gentlemen: D. K. HoUenbeck, Perrysburg; J. L. Piay, To 
ledo; William Corlett and C. AV. Shoemaker. Waterville; 
J. B. Wilson, Bowling Green. 

It may be proper here, in this cc^iinei-tion. as a iiiatler 
of information, to say that aside fi'oni the ])ur('hase of 
around made here bv the state, that the Maumee Valk-y 
Pioneer and Historical Association owns about eight and 
one-half acres adjoining the state's purchase, on the east 
and including the Kentucky l)uiial ground; also the little 
point of the fort fortification that extends east of the road 
leading to the bridge. 

KentucV has had a bill before its legislature for an 
appropriation for a memorial of some kind for the graves 
of her dead whose ashes repose there. Some of her leading 
men took a lively interest in the matter, when a committee 
of the Association called on them at Frankfort two years 
ago, and gave assurance that Kentucky would see that the 
graves of her dead should be properly marked. But some 
of the leaders suggestively inipiired why Ohio, too, had not 
done something for her dead at Fort Meigs. That question 
has since been answered by Ohio, in the fine shaft she has 
raised on the fort grounds. And now it is confidently hoped 
that not only Kentucky, but Pennsylvania, and ])ossibly 
Virginia — all of whom have l)urials there— will see that 
fitting memorial tablets will mark the resting places of their 

soldier dead. 

It is fitting, too, that a word of eonmiendation be 
spoken for the unselfish and devoted work of the :\Iaumee 
Valley Pioneer and Historical Association to reclaim and 
preserve these historic grounds and care for the graves of 
those who perished in defense of their country. 

Some of its members have for years lent their influ- 



16 

ence and put fortli their best efforts in this work, at pe- 
ciiniarv loss and often under the most discouraging circum- 
stances. And now, that tlieir indomitable^efforts are likely 
to be crowned with success, no one has more reason to re- 
joice than thns(' faithful and indefatigable old workers, who 
for so many years have devoted themselves to this labor of 
patriotism and love. 

TTithout these efforts Fort ^feigs would never have had 
a nioniiincnt. and the hundreds of graves thereabouts would 
have remained unmarked in the pasture fields as they have 
been in the scores of years past. All honor to the Pioneer 
Association and their co-workers, as well as to those of the 
Ohio Assembly, through whose patriotic action this tardy 
act of justice to our heroic dead was made possible. 

Especial appreciation is accorded Governor A. L. TTar- 
ris, himself an ex-soldier, for his kindly interest, helpful 
advice and judicious suggestions in aiding the commission 
to economically and successfully bring about the purchase 
and make the construction of the monument possible. 

The Maumee Valley Pioneer Association was organ- 
ized in isn4. Tts first President was General John E. Hunt. 
It has held annual reunions since that time and embraced 
in its membership many of the leading citizens of the Mau- 
mee A'alley. Tt 1ias kept alive and stimulated the interest 
in social and patriotic advancement. 

As the years rolled by. it was found that to accomplish 
inoi-e i)ra('tical results, money was needed to purchase sites, 
etc. So in 1002 the Maumee Valley Pioneer and Historical 
.\ss(M'iali(>n was incorjtorated under th(» laws of Ohio, and 
un<lei- wiiicii stock subscri])tions could be received. Tt was 
under this ])lan made iiossible to ]>uy the Kentucln- burial 
ground. It was un.jer this business-like method that most 
of the i-eal pi-ogress has been made and so mucli has been 
a('('()m])lislied. 

This ('(irporation is still in s]>lendid working order, not 
for gain or jirofit ( for not an oHieer receives a dollar for his 



17 

services), but to aid in every way possible to ])roserve and 
mark the historic spots in tlie Manmee VaUey and to mark 
tlie Imrial places of tlie soldiers who laid down their lives in 
reclaiming the land from savagery and from the rule of 
kings in Europe. 

As snch, may not this Association claim, without over- 
stepping the bounds of modesty, this fine monument over- 
looking Fort Meigs and the graves of its dead, as one of 
its prond achievements? But there is much yet to do. Still, 
with the aid Ohio has already given, the Association ex- 
pects to be able to accomplish very much in the future. With 
these unselfish and worthy motives the Association is cer- 
tainly entitled to public confidence and substantial support. 



SHORT ORDER. SKETCH. 



Fort Meigs, in the year b^l3. lay in the track of war. 
The United States in June, 1812, had, for good cause, de- 
clared war against England. She planned to invade Can- 
ada. One division of her army was to strike from Detroit. 
That division, composed of Ohio militia and United States 
regulars less than 3,000 in all, was put under command of 
an old Revolutionary officer. Gen. William Hull. That 
army, starting from Dayton, made direct for Detroit. Short- 
ly after leaving Urbana, in what is now Cham]>aign county, 
they had passed all white settlements. They were on 
grounds yet owned by the Indians — uninhabited by whites, 
until they struck the embryo settlement on the Maumee — 
in the Twelve Mile Square Reserve, bought of the tribes 
17 years before at Wayne's Greenville treaty. That little 
army cleft its way through unbroken forests and swamps 
day by day, passing through what is now Findlay, where 
they built a stockade: still northward, passing through the 
present corporate limits of Bowling Green about where the 
track of the T. & 0. C. railroad lies to Ridge street, when 



18 

they veered a little to the west, striking the ridge on the 
west side of the Perrj-sburg road nearly two miles north of 
fowling Green. That ridge, near what was then a fine 
meadow of wild grass prairie, was a favorite camping place 
for the amiy during the war and afterwards for the early 
settlers. 

Keeping this course nortli by a few degrees west, Hull 
stniok the Manmee at a ravine about a quarter of a mile up- 
rivor from the south end of the present Waterville wagon 
Iti-idge. Passing down the river below the high banks, he 
rested his army two or throe days at what was then known 
as the "Big Flats." 

Wlien the march was resumed the army forded the 
river just below Presque Tsle hill to the north side and 
continued down the river through the little white settlement 
at ^fiami. that had been started there some five years pre- 
viously. 

The settlers were overjoyed and importuned Gen. Hull 
to leave a detachment of soldiers there as a protection 
against the Indians, of whom there were several thousand 
in the vicinity, some of w1i(~)m were already showing signs 
of hostility, under the malign influence of some of the head 
chiefs who had been offered inducements to join the British 
in case of war. The General approved the request for a 
dcfnil and an officer and S(|uad of soldiers was left, with 
supplies and with orders to fortify themselves in a stockade. 

Details of Hull 's route or line of march have been given 
for two reasons — First: "TTull's trace." as it was long after 
called, was the ]^ioueer road in Wood, Hancock and Hardin 
counties. .\s a rule, it lay (^n the dryost. most favorable 
ground. Second : Some of the profile maps, or plans of Fort 
Afeigs show two roads only, from and to the fort ; the Upper 
SaiKbisky and the TiOwer Sandusky roads. Hull's road did 
not come to the fort but as we have seen crossed the Mau- 
m(^e uearly four Tuiles froin it. Then comes the query, what 
and wliei'e was the T"^pper Sandusky road, shown on Lieut. 



19 



Larwill's excellent profile of tlie fort as recently published 
in the Toledo Blade? 

i\rr. Foster Pratt, for more tlian 80 years a resident 
less than three miles distant from the fort, recently gave 
what seems the only plausible explanation, namely, that the 
Tapper Snndusky road, after leaving the fort on the high 
ground in a westerly and southerly course, intersected 
Hull's road jnst south of where the army struck the Mau- 
mee, thence following Hull's route to Findlay, then by 
direct course to Upper Sandusky. 

This is the only explanation of a road to Upper San- 
dusky. That there was such a road is shown not onh- by 
the engineer's profile of the fort and surroundings, but by 
the oflficial reports of of!icers during the war. Hull's road, 
if road it might be called, was the most direct route to the 
southern part of the state, but because of the swampy na- 
ture of the country it was impassable two-thirds of the 
year, except for horsemen. 

Tt will be noticed, too, by the profile of the fort that an- 
other road is shown leading from the west line down to the 
river bottoms. This road led up the river on the low 
ground to a good fording place at Buttonwood island, and 
on beyond and was practical, except in high water. Xow a 
word about the Lower Sandusky road. .\s noted by the 
profile, this road led from the south gate of the fort in a 
southerly course for a mile or so, when it veered to the east 
several degrees in almost a direct course to the forks of 
the Portage river, now Pemberville, holding thence the 
most direct practical route to Lower Sandusky, now Fre- 
mont. This was a much more favorable, though longer, 
way than either Hull's or the TTpper Sandusky roads. The 
other and better known route was Wayne's road from 
Greenville, in Darke county, by way of Defiance (now), 
thence down the ^Nfaumee. So much for the military roads 
of that period. Roads have always been to a great extent 
determining factors in war. Grouchy failed Napoleon be- 



20 

cause of heavy roads and Waterloo was lost. These notes 
on roads will aid in making more intelligent the campaign 
of 1813, in which the fate of Fort Meigs and the whole Ohio 
frontier was involved. 

Back aways we left General Hull and his army at IMi- 
ami. Here lay a little vessel, the Cuyahoga. She was char- 
tered and the wives and baggage of the officers placed on 
board, including TTull's official rolls and army papers, for 
Detroit. The boat was captured by the English. It should 
be stated that war had not yet been declared when Hull 
started north with his army, though it was generally known 
that war was coming soon. The restless hostile actions of 
the Indians indicated this only too plainly. Hull, in his on- 
ward march, was overtaken before he reached the River 
"Raisin, July 2d, by a messenger with the news that war had 
been declared June 17th. The English by a longer route 
had gotten the news one day sooner than Hull and that is 
how they came to capture Hull's vessel and official papers. 

There is little more to be said of Hull that an American 
cares to hear. He took about ten days or two weeks to get 
to Detroit, when three davs was ample if he had wanted to 
serve his country well. He could, with prompt action, have 
captured Maiden and that part of Canada, whipped all the 
English troops stationed there and cowed their allies, the 
Indians. He had a seasoned lot of men, some of whom 
fought with Harrison at Tippecanoe the year before. But 
now he was an arrant old coward. The tooth of time, 
whisky and tobacco had unmanned him. He dress paraded 
and dawdled away valuable time until the enemy gathered 
up some militia and with a bic: showing of their breech clout 
allies, the Indians, made a bluff at the cowardly American 
commander and to the eternal disgrace of a country he had 
served faithfully in the days of the Revolution, he sur- 
rendered liis army. 

Tie was later court-iiiai'tialcd and sentenced to be shot, 
but before the sentence was carried out he was, because of 



21 

his previous good record, pardoned, dismissed from tlie 
army and died in merited obscurity. 

That practically ended the campaign of 1812, as the 
Northwest was affected. Fort Dearborn and Mackinaw fell 
into the enemies' hands. The Indians were raiding tlie 
frontier and the outlook was gloomy indeed. Especially 
was this so in the Detroit and Maumee country, the princi- 
pal seat of the Indian power, then guided by their Chief 
Tecumseh, whom the English had made their ally. The 
little settlement of whites at the Rapids, a few hundred all 
told, had to flee for their lives, leaving cornfields and cabins ; 
some in boats by the river, others by Hull's trail and 
Wayne 's route to the interior of Ohio, and the Maumee and 
swampy stretches to the south of it became the border line. 



STORY OF TWO WOMEN AT THE RAPIDS. 

HESTER PURDY GREEN. 

Rather pathetic is the story of Hester Purdy Green, 
whose father located at the Rapids, 1810. She says ; 

' ' My father, Daniel Purdy, state of New York, with his 
family came to the Maumee in 1810. Several families came 
with us by the lakes and river. My father lived near the 
river. Fish were very plenty. Large ones could be caught 
with hook and line. We would throw them on the bank as 
we caught them, then selectitig the finest for the table we 
would leave the rest for the pigs. Among the varieties were 
sturgeon, bass, muskalonge and pickerel. Indian neighbors 
were plenty. I have seen as many as fifty lodges camped 
here on their way to Maiden, Canada, to get their presents. 

"Game was abundant; live stock was easil}^ raised on 
the jDrairies and we led a free and easy life until the mut- 
terings of war began to fill us with alarm. Then the ar- 
rival of Gen. Hull and his army reassured us. He left a 
small command who built a fort for our protection. Then 
we lived in security for a time until one day a messenger 



22 

came and told us Hull bad sold his ai-my to the English and 
that we would all have to leave. 

"Then all was fright and confusion. AVe, and most of 
the others, excepting the soldiers, gathered what we could 
handily and left. We stopped at Blalock's a short time, and 
an Indian messenger arrived telling us to come back, as they 
would not kill us, but only wanted some of our property; 
lookiug around until he found Blalock's gun, he took it, 
went out and got a horse my mother had ridden to this 
point, and departed. We went back and remained three 
days, in which time the Indians were pretty busy in driving 
off our live stock (we lost sixteen head), and plundering the 
houses of such as had not come back. 

"But our stay was short, only three days, when the 
commandant of the stockade informed us that he would burn 
the fort and stores and leave, inviting us to take such of the 
provisions as we might need. Cousternation again seized 
upon us, and we hastily reloaded our wagons and left. We 
stayed the first night at a house eight or ten miles south of 
the RajDids. In the Black iSwamp, the load became too heavy 
and they rolled out a barrel of flour and a barrel of meat, 
which they had obtained at the fort. Mr. Hopkins, John 
Carter, Mr. Scribner and William Race went back the next 
fall to gather their crops, and they were all killed by the 
Indians. John Carter was attacked while in a boat on the 
river, and they had quite a hard tight before they got his 
scalp. After many years the government gave the Purdys 
$400 for the croj)8 and stock left behind in their flight." 

MRS. PHELOTHE rL.\RK, 

Among other reminiscences, says: "In the spring of 
1812 my father planted potatoes and corn on the island in 
the river. The army made use of it, and he got his pay for 
it from the government. There was a company of soldiers 
stationed near us, Imt tiiey left iumiediately after we heard 
(»r lluH's sunciKlrr. A Iniiish officer, with a few soldiers 



23 

and a band of Indians, came to take possession of what pub- 
lic stores there were at that place. The Indians plundered 
a few houses, took all the horses and mules they could find, 
and left. The inhabintants had to leave — some of them in 
open boats. Our family, in company with twelve other 
families, left by land. We took the road to Urbana, cut 
through by General Hull's army. After a toilsome journey 
of two weeks through the mud of the Black Swamp, nearly 
devoured by mosquitoes, sometimes with no water except 
what stood in the cattle tracks, we arrived safely at Urbana, 
where we drew government rations until we separated for 
our several destinations." 



A NEW COMMANDER. 

And now as we close this year of misfortunes and dark 
records, we cannot but wonder if it would not have been 
different if an Andrew Jackson or an Anthony Wayne had 
led that army of Hull's? 

But soon a new commander came. Hope, and new life 
and activity came and the year 1813 was to be crowned 
with great deeds. For the time the Maumee Rapids was 
to be the stage on which all eyes centered ; where the bloody 
drama of war was to be played in all its merciless, hideous 
aspects. 

General Harrison, now in command, was hurrying sup- 
plies forward to this point and even had planned a winter 
campaign; but this was frustrated, however, by the rash, 
unauthorized action of one of his subordinates. General 
Winchester, resulting in a disaster at the River Raisin 
which changed Harrison's plans, but only crippled him tem- 
porarily, as we shall see: 



24 

STORY OF FORT MEIGS. 

FROM AX EYE WITNESS. 

Brevet Lieut. -Colonel Eleazer D. Wood, Captain of the 
Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, and in honor of whom 
Wood county was named, was with Gen. Harrison at Ft. 
Meigs as constructing engineer, continued with Harrison 
into Cauada and was finally killed at Erie. He has left a 
most interesting journal of the scenes and incidents in which 
he participated in the Northwestern campaign of 1812-13. 
The student of history is much iudebted to Brevet Major 
(jciu'ial (Jeorge W. Cullum, Colonel of the Corps of En- 
gineers U. 8. Army, for rescuing from oblivion and giving 
to the world the journal of this brave officer, and from 
which the following synopsis can not fail to prove of much 
interest : 

Major General William H. Harrison, having been ap- 
pointed to the command of the Northwestern army, arrived 
at Upper Sandusky early in January, 1813, with two brig- 
ades of militia, together with a few regulars and volunteers 
— in all about 1,500 men. This force was denominated the 
right wing of the army. The object was to establish the 
security of the Northwestern frontier, by expelling the in- 
vaders from our territory. This force of raw troops was 
to be licked into shape and discipline. It was also necessary 
to await the arrival of the field battering train of artillery, 
the latter consisting of five 18-pounders, together with pro- 
visions, forage and ordnance stores. 

A large portion of the troops were on daily duty, in 
l)uiMing block houses and store-houses, the latter to deposit 
the supplies in, ami the former for protection. About the 
12th, the artillery came into camp, and large quantities of 
every kind of supplies were constantly arriving. Thus 
Upi»cr Sandusky was estahlishcd as the principal depot of 
the army. That place is 7<i miles from the Rapids on the 
Maumee. Between these two places is almost an entire 
marsh, a sunken, miry region known as the Black Swamp, 
covered with water that can scarcely be passed at any other 



25 

time than in tlio summer or middle of wiiitor aflcr ils walcrs 
are suilicieutly I'rozeu to bear tiie travelei-. 

The Rapids of the Mauniee are about is milc^ lidiii 
JAike Eri(i, 60 from Fort AVay"<'- ••*• trom I lie iJixcr Ifaisiu 
and 78 miles from Detroit, (icii. W iiiclM'.->lri-, in ('(iiimiaiiil 
of the left wing of the army, was dircclcd to take tlu- route 
of Fort Wayne for strengthening that point. Parties had 
been sent ahead from I'pjx'r Sandusky to open roads, hriduc 
creeks, and prepare the way as innch as possihlc The 
artillei'y had already an-l\-ed and been sent on lowai'ds the 
ivapids. 

About the 15tli of January intelligence was ))rought to 
camp that General Winchester had already arrived at the 
Rapids and proposed advancing immediately to the River 
Raisin. General Harrison was astonished at the impudence 
and inconsistency of such a step, which could be viewed in 
no other light than one attended with the inevitable destruc- 
tion of the corps. Gen. Harrison dispatched tw(j brigades 
to the support of Winchester, who arrived at tlie River 
Raisin on the 18th, fought a battle, in which he claimed a 
victory, but on the morning of the 22d he was overwhelmed 
with the British and Indians, and there followed that in- 
discriminate and barbarous slaughter of brave men, whose 
lives were wretchedly sacrificed to the imprudence of their 
rash commander. 

When General Harrison reached the Rapids, he had the 
pain and mortification to meet the fugitives flying from the 
bloody tragedy of the River Raisin. He at once fell back 
upon the Portage River (near Pemberville), a distance of 
15 miles, as well for the purpose of eoveriiig the artillery, 
then in the swamp, as to meet the reiid"orcements, already 
far advanced from Upper Sandusky, on their way to tiie 
Rapids, lie remained at the Portage from the L'4tli of 
January to the 1st of l-'ebiuaiy. when the artilh'ry and re- 
inforcements having arrived, the army returned to the 
Maumee. 

There General Harrison, with his command, encami)ed 



26 

on a beautiful ridge near the foot of tlie Rapids, on tlie riglit 
bank of tlie river and about 150 yards distant from it. The 
camp was situated about two miles above Fort Miami, and 
about three miles below the site on wliich General Wayne 
gave the Indians such a hitler (liiilil»iii<>- in 1794. It was a 
wise choice uuule by General Harrison and Captains Gratiot 
and Wood of the engineers. Here lay the army with its 
rear to the river, covered by a considerable ravine in front, 
wliicli extended arnuiid and cimnminieated with another 
very deep and wide one. w liieli passed the hd't. and eutii'ely 
secured it. 

Here General Harrison directed that a camp for 2.000 
men sliould l)e laid out and strongly fortified witli hhx'k 
houses, batteries and palisades, in such manner as to stand 
the test of British artillery. This work was continued in a 
state of progression, the lines of the construction were at 
once designated, and a hirge portion of labor assigned 
among every cori)S or regiment in the army. p]aeh brigach^ 
or regiment commenced that particular portion of work as- 
signed it with patriotic vigor and spirit. A fine train of 
artillery, consisting of five 18-pounders, six 12-pounders. 
six six-pounders, and three how it/ers, together witli a small 
supjjly of aummnition, having an-i\ed in camp, the little 
army brightened in appeaiauce and began to feel en- 
couraged. 

The eani}) was ahont I'.onil yards in eii'eum Terence, 
whieh distance, with the exception of several small intervals, 
left for the block houses and batteries, was every foot pick- 
eted with timber, 15 feet long, from ten to twelve inches in 
diameter, and set three feet in the ground. To complete 
this picketing, to put up eight block houses,' of double tim- 
bei', to elevate four large batteries, to bnild all t1ie store- 
houses and magazines reiiuii-ed foi- the sui)i)lies of the army, 
togeth(M- with the ordinary duties and fatigues of the camp, 
was an nmlei'lakiiiL; of no small magnitude. Aside from 
all this, an immense deal of labor was perfornuHl in exca- 
\atinii' ditches, makini^' abatis, and cleariui;- awav the wniod 



27 

about the camp, and all this was done, too, when the weather 
was intensely severe, and the ground so iiard frozen, that 
it required the most strenuous labor to ()i)en it with spad*' 
and pick-axe. It seemed that the use of axe, mattock and 
spade comprised all the militai'v knowledge of the army. 
They continued to work and bury themselves as rapidly as 
l)ossible, and still heard nothing of the expected enemy. 
At this time the army enjoyed a fair degree of health, and 
was well provided with bread and meat, as the woods were 
literally alive with beeves, hogs and paek horses loaded 
with tiour. 

On the 4th of March Captain Wood was sent to con- 
struct some additional works at Lower Sandusky, where he 
spent some 15 days or more, and then returned to the 
Rapids. General Harrison, foreseeing the lamentable sit- 
uation in which the army would be placed on account of the 
near approach of the time w-hen the terms of service of 
many of the militia would expire, went to Chillicothe on 
the 6tli of March, to arrange for supplying the army and to 
take seasonable measures for getting a reinforcement of 
militia. 

Without going into details, suffice it to say that General 
Harrison's instructions w'ere disregarded during his ab- 
sence, and progress in the work of fortifying the works en- 
tirely ceased. The officer left in command proved utterly 
unfaithful to his trust, and was culpably negligent and dis- 
obedient. 

Toward the latter end of March it was learned through 
a trustw^orthy source that General Proctor had issued a 
proclamation directing his militia to assemble at Sandwich 
on the 7th of April, for the purpose of aiding in an expedi- 
tion against Camp Meigs. It was further learned that tiie 
principal plan of attack was as follows: On arriving before 
the camp the Indians were to be immediately thrown in 
our rear, or rather they were to invest the camp, and cut otT 
at once all communication, while the troops were to be em- 
ployed on the opposite side of the river in preparing the 



28 

batteries and mounting the guns to cannonade and bombard 
tlie camp — and tliat in a very few hours after the batteries 
were opened uinm the Americans, they would be compelled 
to seek safety by flying to the swamps, when the Indians 
would accomplish the rest of tiie engagement. 

It was now the 1st of April, when all were convinced 
that in a very few days a visit might be expected from his 
PLxcelieucy General Proctor, accompanied by the great Te- 
cumseh and their ivtiuue. About 15U of the patriotic militia 
from Pennsylvania were prevailed on to remain fifteen 
days longer. Un the eiglith Lieut. -Colonel Ball, with about 
2U0 dragoons, arrived at the Kapids, and iu tine time to af- 
ford the assistance, very much wanted, in the completion of 
the works. Soon afterwards General Harrison arrived with 
a small corps of regulars and militia. 

About the 20th the fifteen days' volunteers from Penn- 
sylvania were paid otf, highly complimented in general or- 
ders, and permitted to return home. The whole number of 
troops in camp at this time, was about 1,200 or 1,300, of 
which not more than 850 were reported fit for duty. They 
were better than half regulars and volunteers, and the rest 
Kentucky and Ohio militia, who had just been drafted into 
service, and of course were quite ignorant of their duty. 

Our block-houses, batteries, magazines and connecting 
lines of defense were now generally completed, and the ap- 
pearance of the camp in its every feature was such as to in- 
spire confidence in those who were to defend it against the 
assault of the invaders of our country. Fuel for the garri- 
son and timber to repair breaches and to make bombproof s, 
should it be found necessary, were brought into camp in 
great abundance. Also, two or three wells were instantly 
commenced — in fact everything was done that possibly 
could lie tlnuiulit (if to ]il;U'e the camp iu the best situation 
to sustain a long siegi'. 

On the 25111 the (Muuhiiied l*>i-itisli and Indian forces con- 
sisting of S(t() militia, 5()i» regulars and 1,500 Indians, all un- 



29 

dcr command of ricnci'al Procto]'. anixcd ;il llic moutli and 
landed on the left slior(» of llic Maunu'c and instantly a 
party of Indians was thrown across tlie river to observe 
and watch the conduct of our ti'oops, shonld any of tlicin he 
sent ont to reconnoitre, as was tlie constant practice. Tlic 
following- day Proctor's army was pnt in motion, keepinj? 
its left to the river, and arrivinu,- with the uuiihoats and bat- 
teries, in which were the artillery and oi'dnance stores. an<l 
advanced np niitil it ai'i'ived on tlie 27th at the old Vov{ 
Miami. The batteaux were at once nnloaded and employed 
in conveying: the balance of the Indians to onr side of tlie 
river. The following night the enemy broke gronnd in four 
different places and were vei-> indnstrionsly employed until 
morning, when their works showed good progress. When 
these nocturnal works were discovered, our guns that conld 
be brought to bear opened upon them and those works of the 
night were completely destroyed. 

Understanding now the enemy's plan of attack, an<l 
where each of his batteries were to be located, and the par- 
ticular ol).ject of each, and knowing that we should be great- 
ly annoyed by his artillery in our present state, it became 
necessary to intrench the army entirely anew, and which 
was done within the original lines of the camp. Captain 
Wood commenced the new intrenchments on the morning of 
the 28th, when the whole army was set to work and contin- 
ued in the trenches until "tatoo," when their labors were 
suspended, and work in the trenches was resumed at break 
of day witli unflagging zeal. Xever did men behave better, 
on any similar occasion, than did ours on this. 

rnfortunately we had not been able to cleai- the wood 
away to a sufficient distance on our left, of which circum- 
stance the Indinns very I'eadily availed themselves, and 
from the tops of the trees, poured into our camps prodigious 
showers of nmsketry. The distance, however, was so great, 
that out of the numerous ([uantity of ball- poured in, com- 
paratively few took effect. .\ number of our men were 



30 

Avoundcd. notwitlistandiiiu-. and rcndrriMl incapable of duty 
I'or some time. 

After the first day's ial)()r in tlie trendies, one-third of 
the troo]is only were ke]>t in them constantly, who were re- 
lieved CNciy tliicc li(iui> liy t'icsh ones. In this way we con- 
tiim('(l our ()))('iati(»ns. while General Harrison was extreme- 
ly active, and was everywhere to be seen in the trenches, 
Hi-irinu: on the woi'k, as well by example as precept. He slept 
but little, and was imconnnonly vigilant and watchful 
throngli the night. 

The first thing commenced to shield the troops against 
cannon, was n traverse, abont 2(1 feet base, laid parallel with 
tlu' rivoi". on the most elevated ground, which was near the 
middle and i-unning the whole length of the camp. Tt was 
fi-om 10 to 15 feet high, and was eom])leted early on the 
morning of the first of ^Nfay, just as it was discovered that 
the enemy had finished three of his principal batteries, had 
liis guns in. and was tlu^n loading and bringing them to 
battery. Orders were now given for all onr tents in front 
to be instantl>- sti-uck and carried to the rear of the traverse. 
Tt was done in almost a moment, and that prospect of beat- 
ing np onr quarters, which but an instant before presented 
itself to the view of the eager artillerists had now entirely 
fled, and in its place snddenlx a]^]^eared an immense shield 
of eai'th, obscni-ing from the sight of the enemy everv tent, 
every horse, of which there were 200. and everv creature be- 
longing to the camp. 

.\l 11 o'clock a. m.. the r)ritish batteries were opened, 
and a most ti-emendous cannonading an<1 bombardiuent was 
cojiimenced and ke])t u]). the former until dark and the latter 
until 11 o'clock at niuiit, when all was again silent. Our loss 
was one or two men killed, and five or six wounded— the lat- 
ter princijially by the Indians. Our ammunition being in- 
ade(|uate to the necessity of a long sieoe. we fired verv little, 
contfmting oui-selv(»s in safety and listeninir to the music 
furnished by the enemy. 



31 

Ou tlie second at dawn, the cannonade coinmenced ap^ain 
witli g-reat vigor, and tlie iiattories continued to ])Iay with 
nuicli l)i'iskness tlirougli the day, and with al)out the same 
effect as on the iircccdjiig day. A •_*4 pdund sliot struck the 
roof of one of out- magazines. >\11 tlic l)att('ri('S were in- 
stantly directed u])on it. tlie traverse not heing of sufficient 
height to })rotect the roof, which was blown off by a .slielh 
No damage of conseqnence was done When firing ceasecl 
in the evening Captain l>radt'(>i<l. witli :i jiarty of nicii. went 
to work and l)eforc morning had tlie magazine thoronghiy 
re])aired. making it im]iregnable to any shell that might 
strike it. 

Tn order that we might be ]tr('i)ai-('d to receive the 
enemy at nil points, another traverse, ])arallel with tiic fii'st, 
and distant about 100 yards, had been counnenced — was 
soon finished, and the two connected by several short ones. 
By this means ricochet firing lengthways of the cam]) would 
be attended with no injury while the men were in theii- tents. 
This rendered our intrenchments a complete citadel making 
it well nigh impregnable. 

At 10 o'clock a. m., on the third, it was discovered that 
the enemy had crossed the river, and had three or four of 
his cannon on our left stuck in the edge of a small ravine. 
In the course of the third day we had two or three dragoons 
killed, several slightly wounded nud n number of horses 
killed. 

(^n the fourth, the eiUMuy neither opened his batteries 
so early in the morning as he lind been .-KM-ustomed to, nor 
did he fire them with his usual vigoi- and activity. Firing 
almost ceased toward evening, it api)eare(i as though the 
enemy was convince(l that the attack from that si«le of the 
river was siiu]>ly an iuniiense waste of powder and ball and 
would ultimately ])rove of no avail. 

About iL' o"<'lock (m the night of the f(»urtli. Major 
Oliver, who had left cam]) on the 28th of .\pril. brought 
wonl that (leneial Clay was ahout eight miles above with 



32 

1,200 militia. General Tlaii-ison tlien planned to have the 
batteries across the river stormed, the o:iins spiked and the 
ina,i>azine destroyed. Colonel Dudley was fnrnislied with 
.si)ikes for the purpose. According to tlie orders received 
General Clay landed 800 of his men to storm the batteries, 
witli Colonel Dudley in counnand. After tlie accomplish- 
ment of their work ihey were ordered to retnrn at once to 
the Fort. With a great yell they stormed the batteries, the 
artillerists fled with great precipitation. Colonel Dudley 
was then in complete possession of the guns. Only a portion 
of tlieiu were spiked and the magazine was left untouched. 
The Kentuckians, elated with their victory, pursued the 
Indians into the woods, in defiance of the orders of General 
Harrison that they should destroy the battery and at once 
return to the Fort. While pursuing the Indians a column 
of British regulars marched up from Fort Miami, and at- 
tacked the rear of Colonel Dudley's badly demoralized 
force. Thus between two fires and surrounded by over- 
whelming numbers his fate and that of the brave men under 
him was inevitable. Of the SOO men thus entrapped only 
about 100 escaped— 80 or more reached Fort ]\reigs, the bal- 
ance escaped to Fort Wayne, some 60 or 70 were killed and 
the rest were taken prisoners. About 600 were marched 
under an escort of Indians to Fort Miami. 

The Indians were then ]->ermitted by General Proctor 
to assemble upon the surrounding ram]iart, and there at 
tlieir leisure amuse themselves by firing at the prisoners 
until at length they preferred slaughtering tlieir wretched 
\ictiiiis in a iiiauiici- more suitable to tlioir savage hatred. 
Tlicy laid aside tlicii- rifles, went into tlie slaughter pen, 
seized those they ] (leased, and leading them to the gatewav 
tomahawked and scalped them without m(Mcy and without 
restraint. Xine bodies were found lying in one pile near the 
gate of the Foil after (icnei-al Proctor left the ^Faumee. 
Afany were found in other ])laces tomahawked and scalped, 
and their bodies mangled in the mi^st inhuman and barbar- 



33 

ons manner. Colonol Dudley was found on the field scalped, 
liis breast cut open and his heart taken out. Such was the 
result of a disobedience of orders. 

A^Hiile this was going on the balance of General Clay's 
command met with considerable opposition from the In- 
dians. But with sharp firing the Kentuckians pushed on, 
aided by 200 dragoons and a battalion of infantry sent from 
the Fort. They completely repulsed the Indians before they 
reached the Fort, with the loss of 15 or 20 killed. The gims 
which Colonel Dudley failed to spike were played upon our 
camp, and the rear of our troops during the skirmish with 
tlie Indians, with much vigor and considerable effect. 

Colonel Miller of the 19th Regulars, with 350 men, 
stormed the batteries in the ravine at our left in the most 
gallant manner, soon had complete possession, and the gims 
were dismounted, the enemy being pursued some distance. 
In this assault our loss was 30 killed and three times that 
number wounded. Captain, (afterwards Colonel) Croghan 
was particularly distinguished in this action, while the vol- 
unteers from Petersburg (Va) were highly commended for 
their cool and intrepid conduct while approaching the bat- 
teries under a heavy fire of musketry. 

During the siege General Proctor had the audacity to 
summon General Harrison to surrender, and was very 
properly told that if he ever got possession of Fort Meigs, 
it would be under such circumstances that would give him 
greater claims upon the gratitude of his countn* than he 
possibly could have by the Fort being surrendered— or 
nords to that effect. 

General Proctor, without troubling us further, on the 
morning of the ninth, raised the siege and left for Maiden. 
The prisoners he had taken were carried down to Huron 
nnd there landed. 

Having many sick and wounded after the close of the 
siege of many days (five days batteries open) and our force 
greatly impaired, such measures were taken as might tend 



34 

to restore the army to liealtli and vigor. The block-houses 
about the lines were cleared of guns and stores and wer6 
<^onverted into temporary hospitals. Tents were pitched 
with arbors about them and such arrangements made to al- 
leviate distress as the circumstances would admit. For 
some time, as might he expected, the camp exhibited a mel- 
ancholy spectacle. But the brave men bore up most patient- 
ly under their anxiety and gloom with the consciousness of 
having faithful Iv done their dutv. 



SECOND SIEGE OF FORT MEIGS. 

On the 20th of July, at the solicitation of Tecumseh, 
General Proctor returned with a larger force, while General 
Harrison was at Lower Sandusky. Tt was to be attempted, 
according to Tecumseh 's plan, to draw the garrison from 
the fort by a ruse, as it proved too strong and well equipped 
to be taken by assault. 

The force of the enemy that had ascended the Maumee 
under the command of General Proctor and Tecumseh, was 
5,000 men, while the number of Indians was greater than 
ever before assembled on any occasion during the .war, 
while the defenders of Fort ]\reigs amounted to only a few 
hundred under command of General Green Glav. 



CAPT. :\rcCUNE'S NAKPOW ESCAPE. 
General Harrison was at Lower Sandusky, now Fre- 
mont, and Captain McCune was sent to apprise Gen. Harri- 
son of the situation. He did so and was ordered by Gen. Har- 
rison to return and inform rien. Clay to be particularly cau- 
tious against surprise, and every effort would be made to re- 
lieve the fort. Captain AfcCnno arrived near the fort about 
day break on the morning of the 2f>th. accompanied by 
James Doolnn. a French Canadian. As t1ioy h^ft the woods 
they were intercepted by a party of Indians. luuuediately 
they retreated at full gallo]-) on the high bank of the river 
for several miles, pursued by the Indians also mounted. 



35 



Coming to a deep ravine they put up from the river in a 
southerly direction, when they turned to the river bottom, 
but soon found themselves confronted by an impassable 
swamp. The Indians seeing their dilemma galloped to tlie 
ravine to head them off. McCune and his companion turned 
upon their own track for the fort, gaining several hundred 
yards from their pursuers. The Indians followed witli all 
speed. Just as they ueared the fort McCune dashed into a 
thicket across his course, on the opposite side of which other 
Indians were huddled, awaiting their prey. When this party 
of Indians had thought them to be their prisoners, McCune 
suddenly w:heeled his horse, followed by Doolan, escaped 
from the thicket by the passage he had entered, and galloped 
around into the open space between them and the river, 
where the pursuers were checked by the fire from the block- 
house at the western angle of the fort. After their arrival 
their horses dropped from fatigue. 

The arrival of McCune, who brought the intelligence 
that Harrison would not come with any troops unless the 
enemy lay regular siege to Fort Meigs, undoubtedly saved 
them from the ingeniously devised stratagem of Tecumseh, 
as that scheme was at once entered into by the enemy. 
FAILURE OF TECUMSEH'S PLOT. 
In the afternoon of the same day the British infantry 
were secreted in the ravine below the fort, and the cavalry 
in the woods above, while the Indians were stationed in the 
forest, on the Sandusky road, not far from the fort. About 
an hour before dark they began a sham battle among them- 
selves, to deceive the Americans into the belief that a battle 
was going on between tliem_and reinforcements for the fort, 
in the hope of enticing the garrison to the aid of their com- 
rades. It was managed with so much skill that the garrison 
instantly flew to arms, impressed by the Indian yells, inter- 
mingled with the roar of musketry, that a severe battle was 
beiug fought and the lives of the reinforcement were in 
dano-er. Some of the officers insisted on being suffered to 



36 

march out to the rescue. General Clay satisfied the oflScers 
that no troops were to be sent to Fort ]\Ieigs until there 
would be further necessity for it. But the men were highly 
indignant that they were prevented from going out to share 
the dangers, as they believed, of their commander-in-chief 
and their brother soldier. A shower of rain ended tiiis sham 
battle. The enemy remained around the fort but one day 
after tliis, wlieu on the 28th they embarked with their stores 
aud proceeded down the lake, and on to Fort Stephenson 
where they met with such a terrible repulse. That fort was 
defended by one gun and 160 young men commanded by 
Major George Croghan, a boy less than 22 years of age. 
Proctor's force comprised 3,300 British and Indians and six 
pieces of artillery. 

A THRILLING ALTERNATIVE. 

The information was given out by a volunteer aid of 
General Clay, who was in the fort during the second siege, 
that preparations were made by General Clay to fire the 
magazine in case the enemy succeeded in the attempt to 
storm the fort, and thus involve all. friends and foe alike, 
in one common fate. This terrible alternative was deemed 
far preferable to that of suffering the barbarities of their 
relentless foes, and finally perish under the tomahawks and 
scalping knives of those fiendish savages. 

BRITISH POWER HUMILIATED 

This concludes the fighting at Fort Meigs, and suou 
after Proctor received severe chastisement at Fort Stephen- 
sou. This was followed by Commodore Perry's brilliant 
victory on the lOtli of September, 1813, which swept the 
Lakes of the enemy and enabled General Harrison to pursue 
Proctor's force into Canada, gaining a complete victory at 
the battle of the Thames, in which Tecumseh was slain and 
the British forces routed. Thus was England's second at- 
tempt to subdue the colonies and disrupt the young republic 
forever frustrated. 

In 1815 the government removed the ordnance and 
stores and abandoned Fort ]\Ieigs. 



37 
FORT MEIGS IN 1840. 



Probably one of the most ])(>])iilai- and iiii[)Osiiig demon- 
strations in the history of tlic I'nited States took place ai 
Port Meigs in Jnne, 184U. Xo more enthusiastic and ini- 
pressive pageant lias ever occurred in the history of this 
country. There were assembled on these grounds al that 
time thousands of visitors from almost every quarter of the 
Union. The great gathering was variously estimated at 
from thirty-tive to forty thousand. All classes and <'oiidi- 
tious, rich and poor, young and aged were involved in the 
enthusiasm of that day. General Harrison with his veter- 
ans, many of the country's leading statesmen, oi-ators and 
humorists were there to honor the hero who had so skillfully 
defended this broad land from savage brutality and British 
oppression. 

General Harrison was the Wliig nominee for the presi- 
dency and to do him honor, the merchant left his store, the 
farmer his fields, the mechanic his tools, to join in the shouts 
of applause and exultation, while cannon, musketry, church 
bells and martial music gave vent to the joyful occasion. All 
nature smiled her prettiest, the scenery of the Maumee had 
donned its loveliest garb, the rippling waters of the beauti- 
ful river, gleaming tiags and streamers waving over Mau- 
mee and Perrysburg, as well as over the fort and the site of 
the British batteries— all conspired to give the celebration a 
vividness that would impress the visitor for all time. Some 
came on foot, some on horseback, some in wagons, in every 
kind of conveyance, and the surrounding hills and plains 
were dotted with tents of every description, in which they 
slept and ate, and did ample justice to the appetizing food 
that the good women of the household had prepared in 
abundance for the occasion. 

Aside from General Harrison many orators graced the 
occasion, among them Hon. E. Cook,. Hon. Robert C. 
Schenck, John R. Osborn and others. General Harrison's 
address was more than usually impressive as he dwelt on 



38 

some of the incidents of 1813. Hon. Thomas Ewing, Gen. 
AVoodbridge, Gen. Ford, Hon. Oliver Johnson, Dr. Smitli, 
George C. Bates, of Michigan, and many others honored the 
occasion. Mr. Saxton, an okl revolutionary soklier from 
Connecticut, was jjrescnt. Among other names recorded 
among the .si)eakers were Colonel Todd and Chu-kson of 
Kentucky, wiio wci'e officers under General Harrison during 
the siege. Rev. Joseph Hadgcj', the Chaplain in 1813, 85 
years of age in 18-10, offered the opening piayer. 

Among tlie iiiililai'v coiiiin;ni(l> present were a I)attali()ii 
fi-om Buffalo, emhracing the Bulfaio Flying Artillery; the 
Buffalo City Guards, La Fayette Guards, Washington 
Guards; the Toledo Guards, undei- the command of Cai)t. 
( '. W. Hill ; the ( 'levelaiid ( I i-e>s, under ('apt. Ingraham ; the 
Sunnnit Guards from Akron ; Log Cabin boys in primitive 
uniform from Geauga County, and an Indian company. 

The steamboats conveying a large portion of the great 
crowds asseiiiltle(l on this ineiiiorabie day were the Commo- 
dore Perry, General Wayne, (ienei-al Scott. Ignited States, 
Rochester, Stai', Huron, Macomb. Jefferson, Sandusky, 
Commerce, Lady of the Lake. \'ance and Chesapeake. 

The occasion proved to lie one to be long remembered 
})y these who were })resent. a number of whom are still living 
in this vicinitv. 



M ■* - 3 81 



39 



SOME OF THE KILLED. 

Efforts to olttaiii a list of the losses of tlie different 
troops eiigaiicd Iiave not been sneeessfnl exeei)t as Ix'Iow in- 
dicated : 

BURIED INSIDE THE FORT. 

Lieutenant ^FcCullondi. Lieutenant Walker. 



KIIJ.EI) rX CAPTAIN RICHARD McRAE'S COM PA XV 

PETERSBURG VOLUNTEERS. 
Corporal George T. Clough. Private Jolin Shore. 
Private George Booker. Private David Williams. 

Private Nicholas Masunl)arg 



COLONEU DUI 

T.ist of killed, as far as 
Colonel W'ni. Dudley. 
Thomas liiurrough. 
Jesse Polly. 
George Clark 
Nicholas Moran. 
Daniel Sloan. 
Ewel Wallace. 
Edward Dyhouse. 
Joseph Statin. 
Henry AViiite. 
James Pebles. 
Benjamin Helberson. 
Robert PTelberson. 
Sergeant Joseph (Jeorge. 
Corporal Anthony Sanmul 
Lieutenant 



)UEY'S COMMAND. 
can l)e obtained : 

Joseph Clark. 

James Elliott. 

John Stevenson. 

Capt. Thomas Lewis. 

Private AMiitfteld Bannn. 

Private Silas Fitzgerald. 

Capt. John C. Morrison. 

Private William ^Nfartin. 

Private Joshua Weathers. 

Private John Daugherty. 

J'rivate John Johnson. 

Private AValter Gregory. 

Private Theodore Mass. 

Private James Simpson. 

Sergeant Scott. 
McClintock. 



40 



PIONEER PROGRAM 



Dedication of Fort Meigs Monument 

September 1, 1908. 



I'idiiccrs of MauiiKM' N'jillcy will meet at Fort .Meigs SepteiiilxT 
1 for a picnic. All the old i-csidciits in the valley are invited. The 
fete will be held under the auspices of the ]\raumee Valley Pion- 
eers' Association. 

The pienic will be^in at 10 o'clock a. m.. and in the afternoon 
the Fort Meigs monument will l)e luiveiled. An excellent pr<^- 
gram has been arranged to precede the basket feast at noon. 
Anionp: the speakers will be Gen. Rennet II. Young, of Kentucky. 
an ex-Confederate officer. Gen. Young answered an invitation to 
address the pioneers here several years ago. but rain cut his speech 
short at the most interesting point. 

Several other speeches are on the program, and the invocation 
will be delivered by Rev. N. R. C. Love, of Perrysburg. D. K. 
Hollenbeck. of Perrysburg. will call the gathering to order. 

The outing takes the place of the annual affair of the pioneers, 
usually held on September 10. the date having been changed to 
September 1 in or<ler that those in attendance may witness the 
unxeiliiig of the Fort ^leigs monument. 

Governor Ilan-is will preside over the exercises of dedicating 
the Fort Meigs monument. It is expected that the governors of 
Kentucky. Virginia and Pennsylvania will participate in the exer- 
cises. Adjutant Gencial Critchfield has given orders that the Sec- 
ond Kegiment encamp on Fort 'Meigs on this occasion. 

Excellent facilities are provided for reaching the grounds 
from Toledo, eight mib>s distant, by trolley liiu^ every 30 minutes. 



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